Gait impairment in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia.
Authors: Parkkinen S, Ortega FJ, Kuptsova K, Huttunen J, Tarkka I, Jolkkonen J
Abstract
The availability of proper tests for gait evaluation following cerebral ischemia in rats has been limited. The automated, quantitative CatWalk system, which was initially designed to measure gait in models of spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, and peripheral nerve injury, is said to be a useful tool for the study of motor impairment in stroke animals. Here we report our experiences of using CatWalk XT with rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), during their six-week followup. Large corti...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Frontal lobe atrophy in depression after stroke.
Conclusions. The results suggest that FLA may play a role in the pathogenesis of DAS, which supports the hypothesis that cumulative vascular burden may be important in predicting DAS. Further investigations are needed to clarify the impact of FLA on the clinical presentation, treatment response, and outcome of DAS in stroke survivors.
PMID: 23533960 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Long-term use of a static hand-wrist orthosis in chronic stroke patients: a pilot study.
Conclusions. These pilot data suggest that a number of stroke patients cannot tolerate a static orthosis over a long-term period because of discomfort. Without appropriate treatment opportunities, these patients will remain at risk of developing a clenched fist and will experience problems with daily activities and hygiene maintenance.
PMID: 23533961 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy: animal experiments for neuroprotective therapies.
Authors: Sameshima H, Ikenoue T
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy and ensuing brain damage is still an important problem in modern perinatal medicine. In this paper, we would like to share some of the results of our recent studies on neuroprotective therapies in animal experiments, as well as some literature reviews. From the basic animal studies, we have now obtained some possible candidates for therapeutic measures against hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy. For example, they are hypothermia, rehabilitation, free radical scavenger, neurotrophic factors and growth factors, steroid, c...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Stroke care in young patients.
In conclusion, the clinical care that is given to young patients with ischemic stroke changed over the study period. In particular, we detected an evolution in the diagnostic process and a reduction in the number of undetermined cases.
PMID: 23533963 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Depression after stroke and risk of mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Conclusions. Despite some limitations, this paper confirms the potential role of depression on post stroke mortality. The relationship between depression and mortality after stroke seems to be related to the followup duration. Further research is needed to clarify the nature of the association between depression after stroke and mortality.
PMID: 23533964 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Depression increases stroke hospitalization cost: an analysis of 17,010 stroke patients in 2008 by race and gender.
Conclusion. Depression in stroke patients is associated with increased hospitalization costs. Higher stroke cost among blacks may reflect the impact of comorbidities and the delay in care of serious health conditions. Attention to early detection of depression in stroke patients might reduce inpatient healthcare costs.
PMID: 23555070 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Circle of Willis Variants: Fetal PCA.
Authors: Shaban A, Albright KC, Boehme AK, Martin-Schild S
Abstract
We sought to determine the prevalence of fetal posterior cerebral artery (fPCA) and if fPCA was associated with specific stroke etiology and vessel territory affected. This paper is a retrospective review of prospectively identified patients with acute ischemic stroke from July 2008 to December 2010. We defined complete fPCA as absence of a P1 segment linking the basilar with the PCA and partial fPCA as small segment linking the basilar with the PCA. Patients without intracranial vascular imaging were excluded. We compared patients with co...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Modification of the ladder rung walking task-new options for analysis of skilled movements.
Authors: Antonow-Schlorke I, Ehrhardt J, Knieling M
Abstract
Method sensitivity is critical for evaluation of poststroke motor function. Skilled walking was assessed in horizontal, upward, and downward rung ladder walking to compare the demands of the tasks and test sensitivity. The complete step sequence of a walk was subjected to analysis aimed at demonstrating the walking pattern, step sequence, step cycle, limb coordination, and limb interaction to complement the foot fault scoring system. Rats (males, n = 10) underwent unilateral photothrombotic lesion of the motor cortex of the forelimb and hind limb...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Subarachnoid hemorrhage, spreading depolarizations and impaired neurovascular coupling.
Authors: Koide M, Sukhotinsky I, Ayata C, Wellman GC
Abstract
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has devastating consequences on brain function including profound effects on communication between neurons and the vasculature leading to cerebral ischemia. Physiologically, neurovascular coupling represents a focal increase in cerebral blood flow to meet increased metabolic demand of neurons within active regions of the brain. Neurovascular coupling is an ongoing process involving coordinated activity of the neurovascular unit-neurons, astrocytes, and parenchymal arterioles. Neuronal activity can also in...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Acute microvascular changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient global cerebral ischemia.
Authors: Tso MK, Macdonald RL
Abstract
Subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient global cerebral ischemia result in similar pathophysiological changes in the cerebral microcirculation. These changes include microvascular constriction, increased leukocyte-endothelial interactions, blood brain barrier disruption, and microthrombus formation. This paper will look at various animal and preclinical studies that investigate these various microvascular changes, perhaps providing insight in how these microvessels can be a therapeutic target in both subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient global cerebral ischemia.
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Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
The cog-4 subset of the national institutes of health stroke scale as a measure of cognition: relationship with baseline factors and functional outcome after stroke using data from the virtual international stroke trials archive.
Conclusions. The Cog-4 scale at day 90 cannot be considered a useful test of cognition since it only superficially measures cognition. It is heavily dependent on the side of stroke, is inevitably associated with functional outcome (being a subset of the NIHSS), and suffers from a profound "floor" effect. Specific and validated measures are more appropriate for the assessment of poststroke cognition than Cog-4.
PMID: 23589782 [PubMed] (Source: Stroke Research and Treatment)
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
The impact of experimental preconditioning using vascular endothelial growth factor in stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Authors: Eicker SO, Hoppe M, Etminan N, Macht S, Perrin J, Steiger HJ, Hänggi D
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulating angiogenesis was shown to be a potential novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of ischemic vascular diseases. The goal of the present study was to examine whether transfection of VEGF before occurrence of major stroke (part I) and cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH; part II) develops neuroprotective qualities. A total of 25 (part I) and 26 (part II) brains were analyzed, respectively. In part one, a significant reduction of in...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in stroke/tia patients.
Authors: Khan M, Miller DJ
Abstract
One-third of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are cryptogenic, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has been suggested as a possible cause for these cryptogenic strokes. Multiple studies have recently evaluated long-term cardiac rhythm monitoring with good yield for PAF. The duration of monitoring varies between studies as well as the qualifying event definition. Moreover, the clinical significance of very brief atrial fibrillation events is unclear in the literature. This paper provides an overview of current advances in the detection of paroxysmal atrial ...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
Reducing haemorrhagic transformation after thrombolysis for stroke: a strategy utilising minocycline.
Authors: Blacker DJ, Prentice D, Alvaro A, Bates TR, Bynevelt M, Kelly A, Kho LK, Kohler E, Hankey GJ, Thompson A, Major T
Abstract
Haemorrhagic transformation (HT) of recently ischaemic brain is a feared complication of thrombolytic therapy that may be caused or compounded by ischaemia-induced activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The tetracycline antibiotic minocycline inhibits matrix MMPs and reduces macroscopic HT in rodents with stroke treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The West Australian Intravenous Minocycline and TPA Stroke Study (WAIMATSS) aims to determine the safety and ...
Source: Stroke Research and Treatment - December 2, 2014 Category: Neurology Tags: Stroke Res Treat Source Type: research
